Whats a typical day like for an astronomer?
There is really no such thing as a typical day. Professional astronomers hold many types of jobs, and since astronomy itself is such a multi-faceted subject, most astronomers find it difficult to describe a typical day. But certainly, a typical day does not include observing with a telescope. That is a misconception, and not how most astronomer hours are spent. Much of the time, an astronomer works at a desk, attends meetings, and works at a computer analyzing data or computing models. The majority of astronomers hold teaching positions at colleges and universities, combining teaching and research. Teaching and preparing for class consume a great deal of time for this type of astronomer and finding time for research is sometimes difficult. NOAO is a research institution that serves the astronomical community by providing telescopes and instruments that can be used by any astronomer studying in the United States. Astronomers at NOAO can spend up to 50% of their time carrying out their o
